News

Tozser and Wildenstein Receive Academic Honor

June 30, 2015

Two Tompkins Cortland Community College student-athletes have been honored with a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Academic Student-Athlete Award. Andras Tozser (Homer H.S./Homer) and Hannah Wildenstein (Dryden H.S./Freeville) were both honored, ranking among the top 3.3 percent of the more than 58,000 student-athletes competing in the NJCAA this academic year.

Tozser received a Superior Academic Achievement Award, which goes to students with a GPA between 3.80 and 3.99 with at least 45 credits earned. He was a two-year member of the men’s soccer team and accumulated a 3.83 GPA while majoring in accounting.

This is the second year that Wildenstein has been honored. A two-year member of the women’s soccer team, she again earned an Exemplary Academic Achievement Award, which goes to students with a GPA between 3.60 and 3.79. Wildenstein graduated from TC3 in December with a GPA of 3.68 as a business administration major.

Dake Signs with Panthers

Lansing’s Kristin Dake will start her collegiate soccer career at TC3. The Most Outstanding Player in the 2014 NYSPHSAA Girls Class C State Championship game, Dake has signed her NJCAA National Letter of Intent and will join the Panthers this fall. She plans to study Sport Management.

TC3 Women’s Soccer Coach Robert Rice calls Dake a phenomenal all-around athlete that can handle high-pressure situations. “Kristin is a leader and a proven winner,” said Rice noting her versatility in the offensive game. “In addition to soccer skills, she has a great combination of being smart and relentless. She will never quit and she’s just the type of player that will help us make the next step.”

Elmira All-Star Signs with Panthers

A conference all-star and two-time sectional champion, Kwinne Harris has signed her NJCAA National Letter of Intent to play with the TC3 Panthers in the 2015-16 school year. Harris was a Southern Tier Athletic Conference (STAC) West all-conference selection as a senior while helping the Elmira Express to a second straight Section IV Class AA title.

"We're very excited to have Kwinne join our list of incoming freshmen," said TC3 Women's Soccer Coach Robert Rice. "She was a strong player on a very strong team with Coach Zach Sarno at Elmira. She's a proven winner, and I'm looking forward to coaching a player with the distinctive talents and work ethic that Kwinne possesses."

Two-Sport Standout to Play for Panthers

Two-sport standout Brittney Randall has signed her NJCAA National Letter of Intent to play soccer and basketball for the TC3 Panthers in the 2015-16 school year. Randall has been honored as an I.A.C. all-star multiple times, including being named the 2014-15 I.A.C. North Large School Basketball MVP.

"Brittney is a special athlete and I look forward to seeing her in a Panther uniform," said TC3 Women's Soccer Coach Robert Rice. "She has proven to be willing to do whatever is in the best interest of the team, and her versatility makes her a valuable piece of our plans for the fall. With her skill set and work ethic, I expect her to step in and help us right away."

Wildenstein Named All-American

December 17, 2014

Tompkins Cortland Community College women's soccer player Hannah Wildenstein (Dryden H.S./Dryden) has been named to the 2014 NSCAA/Continental Tire Junior College Women’s Division III All-America team. Wildenstein was among the 24 players honored as All-Americans, being named to the second team as a forward.

Wildenstein, who also was named all-NJCAA Region III and all-Mid-State Athletic Conference, led TC3 in scoring with 12 goals. Combined with her four assists, she had a role in 40% of TC3’s goals. She also scored the game winner in four of the team’s seven wins, helping the Panthers advance to the NJCAA Region III semifinals.

A member of the TC3 chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, Wildenstein is a business administration.

Wildenstein, DeGraff, Blanchard Named All Region

November 4, 12014

Three Tompkins Cortland Community College women’s soccer players have been voted to the NJCAA Region III all-region team. Sophomores Hannah Wildenstein (Dryden H.S./Freeville) and Amanda DeGraff (Cortland H.S./Cortland) have been named to the first team; freshman Devin Blanchard (Cincinnatus H.S./Cincinnatus) earned second-team honors. A total of 26 players were honored between first and second teams in voting by the coaches in Region III, the largest region in the nation.

Wildenstein, a forward, led the TC3 offense by playing a role in 16 of the team’s 40 goals this year. She was top on the team with 12 goals and scored at least one point in all seven of the team’s wins. The two-year starter also earned all-conference honors from the Mid-State Athletic Conference this year.

DeGraff anchored a TC3 defense that posted seven shutouts and allowed a single goal five other times. She scored two goals and had two assists, including a goal and an assist in the Panthers’ semifinal playoff game. DeGraff also earned all-conference honors this year, her second-straight season earning that recognition.

Blanchard was selected to the second team as a midfielder. She led the team with five assists and was third in total scoring with 15 points. She had a seven-point game in TC3’s win over Corning Community College, making her the first Panthers in four years to reach that mark in a single game.

TC3 finished the year with a record of 7-8-4. The Panthers advanced to the semifinal round of the Region III playoffs, getting eliminated on penalty kicks after playing to a tie. It was the second straight year the Panthers lost in the semifinal rounds, and the tenth straight year TC3 made it into the playoffs.
This also marks the tenth-straight year TC3 has been represented on the all-region team, and the ninth time during that span with multiple selections.

Most Goals (Playoff Game)

Most Assists (Playoff Game)

Honors

Miscellaneous Honors NSCAA/adidas North Region Coach of the Year (2007) Region III Coach of the Year (2005) MSAC Coach of the Year (2005) MSAC Champions (2005, 2010-co) MSAC Player of the Year (2005)

Total All-American Players 6

Coaches–Women's Soccer

Robert Rice

Head Coach

Coach Rice took over as head coach for the 2012 season after serving as the women's assistant for two years and men's assistant for four years. During his time with the TC3 soccer programs, the Panthers have made the NJCAA playoffs each season, inclduing reaching the Region III semifinals each of the past two seasons. During his time at TC3, his teams have sported a combined record of 94-63-10.

In addition to coaching soccer, Coach Rice was the assistant coach on the TC3 softball team in 2011, helping the Panthers to a regional title and a third-place finish at the national tournament. He also served as TC3's head women's basketball coach from 2006-2008.

Coach Rice played soccer at Herkimer County Community College before receiving his bachelor's degree from Cortland State.

Contact: rdr@TC3.edu, 607-844-8222, Ext.4496

Mitch Munson

Assistant Coach

Coach Munson returns for his fourth year as a part of Coach Rice's staff. An enthusiastic teacher, he has been passionate about soccer since his own playing days at Lansing High and TC3. While a Panther he was an all-region performer on TC3's nationally-ranked regional semifinalist team in 2005. He uses this experience and his knowledge of the game to work with Coach Rice to bring the best out of the team and provide a positive learning experience.

Contact: athletics@TC3.edu

Paige McCarthy

Assistant Coach

A former standout player for the Panthers, McCarthy returned to TC3 on the sidelines in 2014. A two-time all-conference and all-region selection, McCarthy was one of the top defenders in the nation. She helped the Panthers climb into the national top ten, peaking at 7th her sophomore year. After TC3 she went on to play at SUNY Oswego.